Judge denies bail for Humble man accused in pregnant wife's death

By Brian Rogers |
January 6, 2014
| Updated: January 6, 2014 8:34pm

Matthew Sowders, 28, acknowledges the presence of his father as he is walked out of the 338th State District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse after his first court appearance. Sowders was charged with capital murder after the body of Melissa Rene Sowders was found in the waters of Cypress Creek. Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

David Sowders, center right, father of Matthew Sowders expresses his support for his son who is charge with capital murder as he exits the 338th State District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse in Houston, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, in Houston. Matthew Sowders' former attorney Dustan Neyland, center left, accompanies David Sowders during the statement to the members of the media.

Photo By Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

John Jordan Assistant District Attorney speaks to the media after the first court appearance of Matthew Sowders who is charged with capital murder at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse in Houston, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

Matthew Sowders, 28, is walked out of the 338th State District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse after his first court appearance. Sowders was charged with capital murder after the body of Melissa Rene Sowders was found in the waters of Cypress Creek. Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

Authorities from the Harris County Sheriff's Office escort Matthew Sowders into the sheriff's office at 601 Lockwood on Thursday. The estranged husband of Melissa Sowders was arrested hours after a body was found near where the pregnant woman vanished.

Photo By Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

Photo By Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

Matthew O. Sowders was arrested and charged with capital murder in the death of his estranged wife Melissa R. Sowders on Thursday.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Jason Sanford, the boyfriend of Melissa Sowders, left, is comforted by a man who wished not to be identified, near the scene where Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Amber Newsom, the sister of Melissa Sowders stands near the scene where Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

The Harris County Sheriff's Department patrols a scene near where Melissa Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Amber Newsom, reacts as she talks about her sister, Melissa Sowders, near the scene where Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Texas EquuSearch exits a gate near the scene where Melissa Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

A tear rolls down the cheek of Amber Newsom, the sister of Melissa Sowders as she stands near the scene where Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Amber Newsom, the sister of Melissa Sowders stands near the scene where Sowders went missing December 26, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, in Houston. Texas EquuSearch found the body of a woman they believe is Sowders. She is two months pregnant and the mother of four.

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

The Harris County Sheriff's Department blocks the entry to a property in north Harris County where a body was found that may be Melissa Sowder. She was reported missing last week amid indications that she had been a victim of foul play.

On Dec. 30, 2013, Texas EquuSearch checks Cypress Creek in a boat equipped with sonar for signs of Melissa Sowders, who has been missing since Dec. 26. (James Nielsen / Chronicle)

Texas EquuSearch checks Cypress Creek in a boat equipped with sonar for signs of Melissa Sowders, who has been missing since Dec. 26.

Photo By Harris County Sheriff's Office

Melissa Rene Sowders is known to drive a white, 1995 Honda Accord, four-door similar to this one. Her car bears Texas license plate CL3H494 and the driver’s door is black.

Photo By Harris County Sheriff's Office

Melissa Rene Sowders

Photo By Johnny Hanson/Staff

Texas EquuSearch members search along Cypress Creek at I-45 and FM 1960 for Melissa Rene Sowders.

Photo By James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle

Texas EquuSearch Tim Miller right, looks over a sonar unit as Texas Equusearch resumed search this morning in Cypress Creek near I-45 where they found sonar image in the water that may be Melissa Sowders who has been missing since December 26th, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, in Houston.

Photo By Johnny Hanson/Houston Chronicle

Texas EquuSearch members search a wooded area along Cypress Creek at I-45 north of FM-1960 for Melissa Rene Sowders, 26, a pregnant woman who went missing two days ago, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, in Houston. Sowders was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26. She told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but police say she has not been seen since.

Photo By Johnny Hanson/Houston Chronicle

Texas EquuSearch members search near a wooded area in Cypress Creek at I-45 north of FM-1960 for Melissa Rene Sowders, 26, a pregnant woman who went missing two days ago, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, in Houston. Sowders was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26. She told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but police say she has not been seen since.

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Johnny Hanson

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives have been investigating the disappearance of Sowders after she was last seen at a fast food restaurant at FM 1960 and Interstate 45 before noon on Dec. 26, according to a release. Sowders, who is two months pregnant, told friends she was going to meet her ex-husband and youngest daughter at the restaurant, but did not return and has not called relatives. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Photo By Marie D. De Jesus/Staff

Matthew Sowders, 28, acknowledges the presence of his father as he is walked out of the 338th State District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse after his first court appearance.

Photo By Marie D. De Jesus/Staff

David Sowders, father of Matthew Sowders, expresses support for his son, charged with capital murder.

The father of a man accused of strangling his estranged wife and dumping her body in a Cypress Creek last month said Monday he wants to know the full story, whatever that may be, about the alleged incident.

Asked what he thought the truth may be, Dave Sowders said he did not know. Sowders, who is an employee of the Houston Chronicle, spoke after his son, Matthew Sowders, appeared in court Monday on a capital murder charge.

"I'm here today to support my son and hoping for the truth to come out," said Dave Sowders. "We're praying for Melissa's family - this is a very hard thing for all of us."

Matthew Sowders, 28, is accused of strangling Melissa Sowders on Dec. 26, killing the pregnant woman and her unborn child, according to prosecutors.

State District Judge Brock Thomas on Monday ruled that Matthew Sowders, 28, would remain in custody without bail.

Sowders asked for a court-appointed attorney after the lawyer he had hired withdrew from the case.

The judge found that the Humble man is indigent and appointed lawyer Robert Morrow, who was not in court Monday.

Assistant Harris County District Attorney John Jordan said in court that autopsy results confirmed that Melissa Sowders, 26, was two months pregnant.

Jordan said Matthew Sowders told two friends that he strangled his estranged wife after she pulled a gun on him the day after Christmas.

"The defendant has not been shy about making admissions about this crime," Jordan said.

The prosecutor asked that anyone with other details about the death to call homicide investigators at the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

No evidence of a gun

Jordan would not talk about what Matthew Sowders told police, but said there was no evidence that the victim pulled a gun.

"We would not be standing here if this was anything close to self-defense," Jordan said.

Dustan Neyland, the attorney originally retained by Matthew Sowders, said he was not aware of any confessions. Last week, Neyland said Sowders was innocent in the deaths.

Matthew Sowders was charged with capital murder because Melissa Sowders was pregnant, meaning the alleged killing took two lives, prosecutors said.

'We will get justice'

"We will get justice, both for Melissa Sowders and her unborn child," Jordan told reporters after the brief hearing.

If convicted, Sowders could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The Harris County District Attorney's Office typically decides whether they plan seek death months after the arrest.

Melissa Sowders and her husband filed for divorce last year after being married nine years.

The couple had four children and she was expecting her fifth child this year. Her boyfriend, Jason Sanford, has said he was the father of that child.

Sanford said Matthew Sowders, who had custody of the children, was to have brought the youngest child to a McDonald's restaurant for a day-after-Christmas visit.

That McDonald's was the last place anyone saw Melissa Sowders alive, prosecutors said.